Apparatus for separating liquids from solids



Feb. 19 1924.

J. AVRUTIK APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM soLIDs 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 26 1920 Nm @y M ATTORNEY Feb. 19 19241. 1,484,002

J, AVRUTIK APPAR-ATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS Filed Nov. 2e, 1920 5 sheets-sheet 2 g/ f2 f3 J Q9 om@ Q l Q 1 Y 7; l o /7 4 Q 7a 55 fp s g e 'Y 42 y Q 90 79 o i y o .93

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l@ ATTORNEY Feb 9 J. AVRUTIK APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS Filed Nov. 26, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v M; ATTORNEY atente@ Feb. i9, i924.

JOSEPH AVRUTIK, `OIF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR, SEPA'BATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIS.

Application led November 26, 1920. Serial No. 426,667.

paratus for Separating Liquids from Solids,

of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates .to an apparatus for separating liquids from solids, and more particularly to an improvement in the liquid and solid separating apparatus shown and.described in my Patent No. 1,360,708 dated November 30, 1920.

The object of the invention is to improve upon the construction and arrangement ofparts of a liquid and solidseparating apparatus such as that described in my said patent in order that it may perform its functions more eticiently. To this end the invention consists in providing the appa-A ratus with means for accurately regulating the quantity of material fed into the apparatus; with means for facilitating the passage of material through and out of the receptacles in which it undergoes the liquid and solid-.separating operation; with means for assisting the passage. or feed of the partially treated material from one receptacle into the next succeeding receptacle; and with improved means for conducting away the liquid which has been separated from the solid constitutents of the substance treated. The invention also consists in providing the apparatus with subsidiary improvements conducting toward the more efficient operation thereof` the advantages of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various features of the invention are described in the following lspecification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 is a vertical section through one form of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken Valong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of another form of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4---4r of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sections showing the method of attaching the gauze or wire screen to the inside of the perforated drums; Fig. 7 is a schematic View t0, illus#l trate the action vof the means for facilitating the feed of the treated material from one receptacle into the next succeeding rel ceptacle; and .F ig; 8 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the shape of the holes in the perforated pipe. l

The forms of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 arealike in all particulars except with respect to the method of conveying away. the separated liquid from the a paratus. `Whether the one form or t e the nature of the material treated. Although the liquid and solid separating apparatus of the present invention is adapted for use in treating all kinds of substances, whether organic or inorganic, it has been adapted particularly for and used in the separation of the molasses residuum from the crystallized sugar in the sugar making industry. The character of the syrup treated varies considerably in density and 'other will lbe employed will depend upon f viscosity. and for certain types of Syrups the one form of apparatus will be preferred tothe other. In any large manufactory, however, both forms of apparatus would be employed. For the sake of clearness of description, the features of construction common to both forms of the apparatus will be pointed out in describing the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1 `and then the features of construction peculiar to the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 3 will be described separately.

The liquid and solid separating apparatus comprises, in the illustrated embodiments of the invention, a series of superposed, concentrically arranged, perforated drums or baskets 10, 11 and 12. These constitute the receptacles in which the material undergoing treatment is subjected to the liquid and solid separating force. In this instance. the force employed is the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the receptacles. The number yof drums employed will depend upon the nature of the' dll side walls extending upwardly to enclose the sides of the drums and thereby catch the liquid thrown out by the drums as they rotate. These liquid receiving pans are designated at 13, 14 and 15- and correspond respectively to the drums 10. 11 and 12. The apparatus asa whole is enclosed in a sectionally made casing. There are three longitudinal sections designated at 17, 18 and 19. These sections correspond respective] to the drums 10, 11 and 12. Each longitudinal section is divided into a number of separate sections as shown at 20 in Fig. 2. This construction is for the purpose of providing a ready and convenient access to the interior of the apparatus without the necessity of dismantling the4 whole apparatus. The apparatus as a unit is supported on the I-beams 21 and 22. A cylindrical apron 23 depends from the bottom of the `casing and surrounds the lower part of the apparatus. rlhe drums are secured to a vertically arranged shaft 25 connected ,with a source of power (not shown). The revolutions of this shaft generate the centrifugal force by which the liquid and solid contentof the material or substance passing through the apparatus are separated. y

The' uppermost drum 10 is provided with a hub 26 which is secured to the shaft 25. The lower drums 11 and 12 are provided with internally-threaded upturned anges 27 and 28' respectively.v 'lhe flange 27 is threaded onto the upper Apart of the exterior of a hollow cylinder 29 which is supported from a hub 3() by means ot the radially and spirally arranged ribs 31. The hub 30 is secured \-to the shaft 25. The flange '28 is threaded on to the exterior of the hollow cylinder 32 which is supported by the radially disposed spiral ribs 33 from the lower part of the hollow cylinder 29. The reason for the radial and spiral disposition o the ribs 31 and 33 will be eX- plained later. rlhe hub .30 is secured in place by a nut 35 threaded onto the lower end of the shaft 25. The sidewalls of each drum are more or less obliquely disposed. lt will be observed by reference to the drawings that the walls of the uppermost drum-10 are disposed at a very slight angle,

that the walls of the middle'drum 11 are` disposed at a greater angle, and that the walls of the lower-most drum 12 are disposed at the greatest angle. The reason for this construction is that when the sugar syrup or massecuite is `led into the uppermost drum, it contains a large proportion of liquid and is therefore more or less tree-dowing and consequently under the action ot the centrifugal force passes up the side walls et the drum readily. As the liquid moved from the syrup, the travel of core or less dried crystals up the side horizontal plane, the material undergoing treatment is first thrown with considerable violence against the lowermost corners 37 of the drums, where the material has a tendency to accumulate. accumulation of the material at-these points, the bottoms of the drums have been depressed so that the action of the centrifugal force on the material resting on the botl tom of the drums will have a tendencyto vlift the material out of the corners of the drums and force it up the side walls thereof. ln this connection, attention is called to Figs. 5 and 6 where it is shown in detail that the corners 37 of the drums are rounded or fluted. It will be observed further that the perforated side walls 38 of the drums are faced with an internally arranged gauze or wire mesh 39. ln order that this gauze may not present any corners and therefore oder an obstruction to the travel or passage of the material up the interior faces of the walls of the drums, the bottoms of the drums are provided with aislot or kerf beyond the rounded corner 37, as shown at 40 in Fig. 5. lnto this kerf or slot 40 the lower end of the gauze 39 is inserted. The, upper end of theg'auze abuts the corner 4l. Any convenient means which will otl'er no impedance to the passage ot the material may be employed for securing the upper edge of the gauze in place. lt will be observed that the above described construction is such that a sub stantially smooth surface is provided from the bottom of the drums past the lower interior corners thereof, up the side walls and over the beveled upper edges 42.

The uppermost liquid receiving pan '13 is secured in place by means of the brackets 44 which extend frointhe interior surface of the uppermost section 17 of the casing to the vupper part of the pan 13. 'lhelower cen- T prevent they lOO i' by the brackets 58.

gravity. The liquid from the pan 13 is discharged through the-openings in the lower end of the cylinder 29 and passes into the compartment 46 of a receptacle 47 arranged below the central portion of the lowermost drum. From the compartment 46 the liquid is discharged from the apparatus through the pipe 48.

The liquid receiving pan 14 is of substantially the same construction as the pan 13. It is secured by means of the brackets 50 to the casing ofthe apparatus. A. central aperture 51 is provided-inthe sloping bottom of the pan and through this aperture the liquid received from the drum 11 is discharged into the upper end of the hollow cylinder 32.--fTheradial, spirally arranged ribs 33 of this cylinder produce an exhaust action and this assists the liquid in flowing down through the cylinder, whence it is discharged into the compartment 52 of the receptacle 47 and is discharged from the apparatus through the pipe 53. The lowermost liquid receiving pan 1'5 is secured to the apron 23 by means of the brackets 54. The bottom of this pan is provided with an annular depression 56. The liquid from the lowermost drum 12 collects in' this depression 56 and is discharged from the apparatus through the pipe 57. The central 'portion of the pan 15 is open and surrounds the lower part of the drum -12 and its connected mechanism, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The receptacle 47 is supported from the pan 15 It has sometimes been `found desirable to keep the liquid being discharged through the.

cally arranged shaft suspended from a motor, the lower end of the shaft is liable to oscillation. For this reason, and to prevent the liquid being discharged from one cylinder from mixing with the liquid discharged from the other cylinder, the cylinder 29 is provided with a longitudinally arranged flange 55 which causes the liquid fiowlng through the cylinder 32 to be thrown outwardly toward the outer walls of the compartment 52. Under the discharge openings of the cylinder 29 is arranged a truncated conev59 which causes-,the liquid to be thrown toward the outei'walls of the compartment 46. This construction in connection with the height of the walls of the compartments 46 and 52, and the rubbergaskets 60, eRectively prevents the commingling of the diiferent'kinds of liquid. lt will be observed in this connection that the lower end of the cylinder 29'- projects beyond the lower end of the cylinder 32 and that the walls between the compartments 46 and 52 roject upwardly beyond the lower end of t e cylinder 29.

The material or subtsance to be acted upon to separate the liquid and solid' contents thereof is fed into the appara-tus throu h a trough 61. In the instance under consi eration this material is crystallized sugar syrup and it passes through the trough 61 into the hopper 62 yunder hydrostatic pressure as well as by the action of gravity.l The hopper 62 discharges into a cylindrical chute 63, set into the top of the apparatus.. The `flanged upper end 64 of the chute y63 rests on the top of the casing section 17. In order that the incoming syrup may not strike the revolving shaft 25 and adhere thereto and so block up the passageway, a .sleeve 65 surrounds the shaft 25 andis held in place by brackets 66 fastened to the interior of the chute 63. The lower end of the chute 63 is separated from the bottom of the uppermost drum 10 by a space ,sucient to permit the passage of enough material to maintain the apparatus at its maximum capacity. The quantity of material permitted to pass into the uppermost drum 1s regulated by means of an anuular apron 68, which surrounds the lower end of the chute 63. The lower part of the apron 68 flares outwardly at an angle. The apron is provided with ears 69 into which are thread-y ed the studs 70 which pass upwardly through the top of the casing section'l? and through the chutetlange 64. On the upper threaded ends of the studs 70 are nuts 71. It will be observed that the length of stud projecting beyond the tops of the nuts 71 equals the distance the lower edge of the apron 68 is separated from the bottom of the uppermost drum. This construction provides aconvenient means. for adjusting the yspace between the lower edge ofthe apron 61 and the bottom of the uppermost drum so as to regulate the quantity of material ermitted to pass into the drum to be sub- ]ected to the liquid and solid separating force. By noting the amount the studs project out of the nuts 71, the operator knows at a glance how far the lower edge of the i apronr 68 is from the bottom of the drum and can regulate this space according to the nature of the material treated.

Itis desirable that the material discharged from the uppermost drumA 10 be fed into the next succeeding drums as rapidly as it is fed into drum 10. Inasmuch as the :ma-y

gravity in causing the material discharged yfrom the drum 10 to descend rapidly'into sists of some fluid, such as compressed air,

steamer water, discharged through aseries of coils or pipes 73, 74-and 75, which are located above the drums 10, 11 and 12 respectively. The relative position of the pipes and the rims of the drums with respect to the inner surface of the casing is clearly shown in Fig. 7. The pipe 76 iny this figure, and the drum 77 are representative of any of -the pipes and drums in'Fig. 1. The pipes 7 3, 74 and 75 are connected respectively with -feed pipes 7 8, 79 and. 80, which in turn are connected with the mains 81, 82 and 83, which are controlled by the valves 84. The

vspecific construction of the connections between the feedlpipes and the mains is `old and well known and needs no further description, it being understood that each main is connected with each feed pipe so that different kinds of fluids can be fed to each pipe'. |The bottom outer quarter of each coil pipe 73,- 74 and 75 is provided with a series of discharge openings 85. By reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the discharge ends of these openings or holes are flared. This is for the purpose of securing an overlapping of the fluid discharged through these openings so that it will strike the material passing from one drum into the next lowermost drum as a blanket and assist in the feeding of the material, rather than strike it in separate small streams and have a tendency to penetrate it. The openings or holes 8 57 are arranged in staggered relation.

During the operation of the apparatus in separating the liquid and solid content of the material to be treated,l thematerial is first fed into the drum 10as explained, and under the action of centrifugal force it passes up the inner sides of the walls thereof and the liquid is forced out through the perforations and passes down through the pan 13 and the hollow cylinder 29 out of the apparatus. The partially treated material which passes over the upper rim of the drum 10 'strikes against the corresponding inner .walls of the casing section 17. This action is schematically illustrated in Fig. 7 where the dash lines 87 represent the material. 1n this connection it will be observed that the upper rim 42 of the drums is beveled or.

means for forcing the material down into` the next succeeding drum. The direction of the center of the air currents passing out of manca provided, and in order that the material discharged from the drum 11-may pass into the.

middle of the lowermost drum 12 an annular chute 89 is provided. As in the operation of .the centrifugal apparatus described in my said patent the operation of the present ap paratus is automatic and continuous, the centrifugal force which acts to separate the liquid and solid content of the material also acting to automatically feed the material from one drum into the next succeedin drum. ln the present instance the feed o material into the next succeeding drums is assisted by the action of the fluid passing out of the coil pipes 73, 74C and 75. lt has been found convenient in the operation of ,the apparatus to use different forms of fluid at the same time, depending upon the nature of the material treated. For example, compressed air may be used in conjunction with the uppermost drum in order to assist the feed of the material discharged therefrom into the next lower drum. If the material treated needs decolorizing, a water or steam spray may be' discharged upon it from the pipe 7 4 as it passes from drum 11 into drum 12. This treatment, of course, puts an undesirable amountof liquid into the material again, and so air either hot or cold will be turned on to the material as it passes out of the lowermost drum 12, thereby coming discharged through the openings in the coil pipes 73, 7d and 75 acts to prevent the material discharged from the drums from striking too forcibly against the correspond` ving parts of the inside. of the casing. Were this permitted, the tendency would' be for the material, if sticky, to adhere to the inside of the casing, whereupon there would speedily'be built up a layer of material which would obstruct the passage of material from one drum to the next.

The form of apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is, as stated above,of exactly the same construction as the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the exception of the 'means for conducting awaythe liquid. ln this construction the drums 90, 91 and 92 are provided respectively with the liquid receiving pans 93, 94 and 95. The uppermost liquid receiving pan 93 is provided at one side with a discharge ipe 96 which passes through the annular cliute 88 and through one side of the casing section 18. rlhe central portion 'of thebottom of the pan 93 is cut away to accommodate the hub 97 of the dr and an upturned-ilange 98 pres outer edge o vents the liquid from passing through the opening. In like manner the pans 94 and 95 are provided respectively with the d1s, charge pipes 99 an 100. It will be observed that the cylinders 102 and 103 on the exteriors of which the drums 91 and 92 are respectively threaded dier somewhat in construction from the cylinders 29 and 32 on which the drums 11 and 12 are threaded. The cylinder 102, however, equals in size the cylinder 29 and the ycylinder 103 equals in size theY cylinder 32, s0 that if desired or necessary the drums 10, 11 and 12 of 'the one form of apparatus may be substituted for the drums 90, 91 and 92 of the other form of apparatus. the drums of both forms of apparatus are made respectively interchangeable. Cylindrical guards 105 and 106, surrounding respectively the upper ends of the hubs of the drums 91 and 92, preventthe material undergoing treatment in them for fallin through the apertures between the ribs 1 of these cylinders. The ribs 107 project radially from hubs which are supported on the lower end of the vertical shaft 25.

The mode of operation of the form of apparatus shown inFig. 3 is 'exactly the same as the mode of Operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, except that the separated liquid instead of being discharged through the bottom of the liquid receiving pans and thence down through the bottom of the apparatus, is discharged out through the sides of the apparatus through the pipes 96, 99-and 100.V

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. An apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a series of drums having perforated side walls, a verticallyarranged shaft for supporting the drums, means for rotating the shaft, means for feeding a stream of substance to and through the drums, a receptacle located beneath each drum for receiving the liquid thrown out therefrom, and a erforated pipe located above each drum or directing a stream of fluid onto the substance as it passes from the drum to assist the feed of the substance into the next succeeding lower drum.

2. An apparatus 'for kseparating liquids from solids comprising a drum consisting of a bottom and side walls, means for rotating the drum, the side walls of the drum being perforated and adapted to support a wire gauze, the corner at the junction of the lower ed e of the said walls andthe the bottom being slotted to receive and hold, without other fastening means, the lower end of the wire gauze, the upper edge of the wire gauze being secured to the upper edge of the side walls.

3. An apparatus for separating liquids- 1n other words,

forations in the pipe, said perforations being directed toward the point of discharge from the receptacle.

It. An apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a series of drums having perforated side walls, means for rotating the drums, a casing for enclosing the A drums, means for feeding a stream of substance to and through the drums, a liquid and solid separating force acting to feed the substance from one drum to another, and

means associated with each drum for assisting the feeding of the substance into the next succeeding drum.

5. An apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a series of drums having perforated side walls, means for rotating the drums, means for feeding a stream of substance into the first drum, the liquid separating force acting to feed the substance from one drum into the next succeeding drum, and means located above each drum for directing a stream of fluid on to thesubl stance as it passes out of the drum.

6. An apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a plurality of drums having perforated side walls, means for roribs to facilitate the passage of liquid down throu h the cylinder.

8. n apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a drum having perorated side walls, means for rotating the drum, means'for feeding a stream of substancato the drum consisting of a chute extending into the drum, a movable piece surrounding the bottom ofthe chute, and means for adjusting the position of the movable piece relatively tothe bottom of the drum to regulate the amount of material permitted to be acted upon in the drum.

9. An apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a drum, means for feeding a stream of substance into the drum consisting of a chute set into the drum, a movable piece surrounding the lower end of the chute, a surface from whichthe mov able piece is suspended, a stud extending from the movable piece through the surface and having a nut on its exposed end, said parts being so arranged relatively to the bottom of the drum that the end of the stud projecting beyond the nut equals the space separating the lower end of the piece from the bottom of the drum.

10. An apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a series of superposed drums having perforated side Walls, means for rotating the-drums, liquid receiving pans located below the drums, means for feeding a stream of substance into the insane@ first drum, means for regulating the feed of the substance, and means associated With each drum for facilitating the feed o the substance into the next succeeding drum.

11. The method of separating the liquid from the solid content of substances which comprises feeding the substance to a series of receptacles, utilizing centrifugal force to discharge the substance from the receptacles and utilizing fluid under pressure to assist in feeding the discharged substance from each receptacle into the next succeeding receptacle.

JSEPH AVRUTEK. 

